Institute buys holiday park

Students studying at Waiariki Institute of Technology can now live a hop, skip and jump from its Rotorua campus after the institute bought a neighbouring holiday park.

Waiariki's acting chief executive Keith Ikin said the institute could now offer another great reason to study locally after buying the Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park, next to its campus on Old Taupo Rd.

The institute had its eye on the site for years and wanted to provide an opportunity for quality, affordable student accommodation.

Mr Ikin said having their own hostel was hard to put a value on. "As a regional polytechnic our ability to serve our region as a whole has significantly increased with students from Tokoroa, Whakatane or Taupo now able to move to Mokoia to continue their studies," he said.

The holiday park has a range of accommodation - cabins, flats and a two-storey lodge with about 300 beds in total. It also features hot pools, toilet and shower facilities and large green spaces.

Mr Ikin said it would provide a university campus feel and create a genuine student lifestyle.

"You get this kind of feel from a lot of university campuses around New Zealand and living in a hostel situation can be some of the best years of your life ... it's an important part of being a student."

It was not easy, especially for international or out-of-town students, to find adequate and affordable accommodation so close to the institute, Mr Ikin said.

"We'll take some time over the coming weeks to decide how we can best utilise the facility ... but the holiday park will continue to operate the way it has been."

He expected having accommodation so close to the institute's campus would be a major drawcard for international students.

"Knowing they have safe accommodation in a campus hostel on the other side of the world is a huge plus," Mr Ikin said.

"We will be looking to invest in upgrading the site but want to take our time and ensure we get the best benefit from it."